Power transmitting apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

A power transmitting apparatus for use in a transportation vehicle includes a motor shaft of a vehicle-driving motor, an input shaft operatively connecting with the motor shaft, output shafts provided in parallel with the input shaft to be connected with driven wheels of the vehicle, and a transmitting mechanism for transmitting driving power from the input shaft to the output shafts. The opposite end portions of the motor shaft are supported by a pair of motor shaft bearings, and one of the motor shaft end portions supports one of the opposite end portions of the input shaft in such a manner that the motor shaft can transmit driving power from the vehicle-driving motor to the input shaft. The other end portion of the input shaft is supported by another bearing, and the transmitting gearing is disposed adjacent to the other end portion of the input shaft remotely from the section where the one end portion of the input shaft is supported. This arrangement can make unnecessary one separate bearing to support the one end portion of the input shaft of the speed-reducing mechanism, and hence reduce the number of the necessary bearings. The arrangement can also substantially reduce the axial length of the housing necessary for receiving and retaining the bearings. Consequently, the size and weight of the power transmitting apparatus can be reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A power transmitting apparatus, for use in a vehicle, including a motor shaft of a vehicle-driving motor, an input shaft operatively connecting with the motor shaft, output shafts disposed in parallel with the input shaft and adapted to be connected with driven wheels of the vehicle, and a transmitting mechanism for transmitting driving power from the input shaft to the output shaft, said apparatus comprising: a pair of motor shaft bearings supporting opposite end portions of said motor shaft, one of the end portions of said motor shaft being sole support for one of opposite end portions of said input shaft in such a manner that said motor shaft can transmit driving power from the vehicle driving motor to said input shaft; and   a bearing supporting the other end portion of said input shaft, a transmitting member of said transmitting mechanism being disposed adjacent to said other end portion of said input shaft remotely from a section where the one end portion of said input shaft is supported by the one end portion of said motor shaft.   
     
     
       2. A power transmitting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said motor shaft has one or more spline grooves formed in an inner peripheral surface thereof and said input shaft has one or more spline keys formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and wherein said motor shaft and input shaft are connected with each other by a spline joint between the spline keys of said input shaft and the spline grooves of said motor shaft. 
     
     
       3. A power transmitting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said motor shaft and input shaft has one or more spline keys formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and wherein said motor shaft and input shaft are connected with each other via a coupling having spline grooves engaging the respective spline keys of said motor shaft and input shaft. 
     
     
       4. A power transmitting apparatus as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein one of said motor shaft bearings supporting the end portion of said motor shaft connecting with said input shaft is a sealed bearing and is also sealed by an oil seal provided outwardly of said sealed bearing, and which further comprises an opening formed between said oil seal and sealed bearing in communication with the atmosphere. 
     
     
       5. A power transmitting apparatus as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein said input shaft has an oil passage formed therein to feed lubricating oil to said spline joint section.